Dr Rebecca Cook-Johnson

Biography/ Background

I am a PhD graduate from Flinders University and was previously employed as a Senior Research Officer in the Rheumatology Unit with the Royal Adelaide for eight years.  During that time I was responsible for the design and implementation of various projects which involved directing the progress and overseeing the work of junior members of the team as well as supervising students in PhD programmes.

 

I was responsible for developing collaborations with researchers from other institutes and planning and writing grant applications for future projects.

 

I have developed high levels of communication skills through the completion of Honours and a PhD and have further developed these skills by presenting scientific data at meetings and in publications.  Since becoming a senior research officer I have directed and supported other staff members including clinicians, junior post-doctoral researchers, research assistants and PhD students.

 

I have enjoyed working within various teams for many years, first entering biomedical research after completion of my PhD.  Since that time I have obtained strong skills in forming collaborations with other researchers in this field as well as clinicians and surgeons.

·         Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

·         Highly organised, efficient, flexible and versatile

·         Solid lecturing experience gained during my work as an Affiliate Lecturer at the School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide as well as various guest lectures’ in cell physiology, molecular biology and botany at Flinders University & The University of Adelaide

·         Proven experience conducting problem based learning tutorials at Flinders University

·         Excellent organisational and analytical skills with the ability to lead projects and obtain results

Qualifications

1996   Bachelor of Science

          Flinders University of South Australia

 

1999   BSc Honours

          Flinders University of South Australia

 

2001   PhD

          Flinders University of South Australia

 

Isolation and characterisation of the non-phosphorylating NADH dehydrogenases in plant mitochondria

School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia. Supervisors: A/Prof Kathleen Soole, Prof Joseph Wiskich

 

Research Funding

NHMRC Project Grant (453511) Regulation and activity of the fatty acid delta 6 desaturase (D6D).  Prof MJ James, Prof RA Gibson, Prof LG Cleland, Dr RJ Cook-Johnson and Ms S Lester  2007 -2009 ($507,000).

Publications

Melissa K Gregory, Robert A Gibson, Rebecca J Cook-Johnson, Leslie G Cleland, Michael J James. Elongase reactions as control points in long-chain polyunsaturated Fatty Acid synthesis. PLoS One. 2011 ;6 (12):e29662

Gregory MK, Lester SE, Cook-Johnson, RJ, Gibson RA, Proudman SA, Cleland LG and James MJ. (2011) Fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) promoter mutation is not responsible for Δ6 desaturase deficiency. European Journal of Human Genetics, Epub ahead of print.

Mulhausler BS, Cook-Johnson RJ, James MJ, Miljkovic D, Duthoit E and Gibson RA. (2010)  Opposing Effects of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on the Expression of Lipogenic Genes in Omental and Retroperitoneal Adipose Depots in the Rat.  Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism Volume 2010, Article ID 927836, 9 pages.

 

Tu WC., Cook-Johnson RJ, James MJ, Mühlhausler BS and Gibson RA (2010) Omega-3 long chain fatty acid synthesis is regulated more by substrate levels than gene expression. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids (IF 2.530)  Aug; 83 (2) 61-68

 

James MJ., Cook-Johnson RJ., and Cleland LG (2007) Selective COX-2 Inhibitors, Eicosanoid Synthesis and Clinical Outcomes:  A Case Study of System Failure. Lipids (IF 2.382)  42:779-785

 

Cook-Johnson RJ., Demasi M.,Cleland LG., Gamble JR., Saint DA and James MJ (2006) Endothelial cell COX -2 expression and activity in hypoxia.  Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids.  (IF 4.357)  1761(12):  1443-1449

 

Demasi M., Cleland LG., Cook-Johnson RJ., and James MJ., (2004).  Effects of hypoxia on the expression and activity of COS-2 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes: interactions with monocyte-derived soluble mediators.  Arthritis and Rheumatism (IF 7.352) 50 (8): 2441-1449.

 

Demasi M., Cleland LG., Cook-Johnson RJ., and James MJ (2004).  Effects of hypoxia on the expression and activity of COX -2 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes: interactions with monocyte-derived soluble mediators.  Arthritis and Rheumatism (IF 7.352) 50 (8): 2441-2449

 

Demasi M., Cleland LG., Cook-Johnson RJ., Caughey GE., AND James MJ. (2003) Effects of hypoxia on monocyte inflammatory mediator production:  Dissociation between changes in cyclooxgenase-2 expression and eicosanoid synthesis.  J.Biol. Chem (IF 5.328) 278 (40): 38607-38616.

 

Moore C.S., Cook-Johnson RJ., Rudhe C.,Whelan J., Day D.A., Wiskich JT, and Soole KL, (2003)  Identification of AtNDI1, an internal non-phosphorylating NAD (P) H dehyrdrogenase in Arabidopsis mitochondria.  Plant Physiol. (IF 6.982) 133 (4): 1968-1979.

 

Cook-Johnson RJ., Zhang Q, Wiskich JT, and Soole K., (1999). The nuclear origin of the non-phoshorylating NADH dehyrdogenases of plant mitochrondria Febs Lett.(IF 3.541) 454: 37-41.

 

Zhang Q., Wiskich JT., Cook-Johnson RJ, and Soole KL. (1999)  Respiratory activities in chloramphenicol-treated tobacco cells.  Physiol.  (IF 6.982) 105: 224-232.

 

Book Chapter

Qisen Zhang, Rebecca Cook-Johnson, Joseph T Wiskich and Kathleen Soole(1998). Regulation of respiratory pathways under chloramphenicol stress.  In Plant Mitochondria: From Gene to Function,  Eds. I.M. Moller, P. Gardestrom, K Gilmelius and E Glaser. Pp 301-306.  Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands.

 

Entry last updated: Friday, 17 Feb 2012